An alleged hate crime.
Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault on a teenager that happened on Monday afternoon around 2:30 pm in Navan, County Meath.
The brutal attack was filmed and has been circulating on social media ever since.
An Garda Síochána released a statement saying a young male who is around 14-years-old was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for serious facial injuries.
The video footage shows the young boy being punched by a group of other youths.
Many of whom were wearing their school uniforms.
It’s alleged that the root of this attack was due to the boys sexuality.
Teenager “received treatment for serious facial injuries” following an assault in #Navan
Gardai have confirmed to @VirginMediaNews that an investigation is now underway
The attack happened on Monday afternoon at approx 2:30pm. pic.twitter.com/qJhSaJSePQ
— Zara King (@ZaraKing) May 17, 2023
“A sickening display of violence”
The Gardaí said it “is aware of a video circulating on social media of this incident and out of respect for the victim in this case we would request that people refrain from sharing this video.”
According to the Mirror, Fine Gael’s Mary Seery-Kearney described the attack as a “sickening display of violence and humiliation”.
She said: “This child and I assume he is a child, is being filmed as a group of pupils from a school pile on him. Kicking him, punching him, pulling his hair and taunting him.
“It is a sickening display of violence and humiliation and I can’t remember the last time I have seen anything so distressing.
“That this attack was filmed and posted on social media channels adds to the suffering of this child.
“The perpetrators of these criminal acts must be dealt with and a clear message needs to be sent from the Board of Management at the school, the Gardaí, and parents, that these shameful, cowardly and utterly disgusting acts will not be tolerated and will be punished.”
The Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information about this case to contact Navan Garda Station immediately.
